What do participants need to do: Online survey
How long will it take? Approx 7 mins
Will participants get paid? No
Is this for research, policy or services? Services
Who can take part? People with any cancer and other long term health conditions who are taking multiple medicines
Deadline: 08 June 2026
Location: Online
This UK study explores experiences and views on polypharmacy in cancer care. It aims to understand how people affected by cancer, along with health professionals involved in their care, manage and experience the use of multiple medicines. The findings will help identify challenges, improve understanding of medicine-related issues during cancer treatment, and support future service development.
The study is seeking responses from a wide range of participants across the UK. This includes doctors, such as oncologists, GPs and specialty registrars; pharmacists working in hospital, primary care and community settings; nurses working in oncology, general practice, and palliative or end-of-life care; and allied health professionals, including dietitians, radiographers, occupational therapists, paramedics, physiotherapists, podiatrists, and speech and language therapists. Patients with cancer and carers are also encouraged to take part.
Participation involves completing a confidential survey. No identifiable information is collected, and consent is implied through survey completion. The study has not received formal ethics approval.
By gathering perspectives from both patients and multidisciplinary professionals, the study hopes to build a clearer picture of how polypharmacy affects cancer care in practice. It will also explore where support may be improved for people managing cancer alongside other long-term health conditions.
This work is intended to inform future research and service improvement in cancer care and medicines optimisation. Participation from a broad range of professional and lived-experience perspectives is welcomed to ensure the findings reflect real-world practice and patient experience across different care settings.
Link to the survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Patientpolypharmacy/
